Genoa cooks with herbs, olive oil, chickpeas and the catch of a port that traded for seven centuries. Pesto genovese is the city's signature: basil pounded in a marble mortar with garlic, pine nuts, Parmigiano and Fiore Sardo, first written down with basil in 1852 and now judged every other spring at the Pesto World Championship in Palazzo Ducale. The day starts with focaccia genovese, oily and salted in its dimples, often dipped in a cappuccino, and farinata, a chickpea flatbread from the wood oven, fills the old town's lanes at lunch. The table runs to pansoti with walnut sauce, trofie and trenette al pesto, minestrone finished with pesto, stoccafisso accomodato, cima alla genovese and, for feast days, cappon magro and torta pasqualina. The Mercato Orientale has sold the produce of the Val Bisagno since 1899, confectioners such as Pietro Romanengo fu Stefano have made candied fruit since 1780, and the Michelin Guide lists two starred restaurants in the city. Recco's cheese focaccia and Camogli's fish festival are a short train ride east.

Where to eat in Genoa

All 19 restaurants

  1. Trattoria Rosmarino

    Order Brandacujun and trofie al pesto, the two dishes Michelin names first.

  2. Toe Drue Antica Osteria

    Order Cappon magro, home-made pesto, breaded anchovies or the fried panissa, all listed on the site.

  3. Osteria della Foce

    Order The evening farinata, or the tartare di ricciola with celery and rose syrup that Michelin names.

  4. Voltalacarta

    Order The cappon magro when it is on; Michelin and Gambero Rosso both name it the house signature.

  5. Le Rune

    Order The stoccafisso brandacujun or the calamari stuffed with prawns and courgettes, both named by Michelin.

  6. Quelli dell'Acciughetta

    Order Mandilli de sea with house-made pesto (€13) or the cappon magro (€25) from the current menu.

Fine dining

Book food experiences in Genoa

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Food festivals coming up in Genoa

All Genoa food festivals

Going to Festa della Focaccia di Recco? Hotels for 23 May 2027, from USD 54 a night.

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Where to stay in Genoa

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Getting there and around Genoa

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Signature dishes in Genoa

All 10 dishes
More dishes

Taste Focaccia genovese with a local

Guided Food Tour with Wine Tastings, Pesto & Focaccia

★ 4.8 (62)2 hoursfrom €59

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Where to eat by neighborhood

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Also in Genoa: tickets for the sights

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Map of Genoa

Every restaurant, cafe, market and bar we cover in Genoa, pinned. Click a pin for the page.

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Plan your Genoa trip

Pick your dates: we line up the festivals on, what is in season, where to eat on the days you are in town, and experiences you can book for those dates.

In Genoa now? See what is open near you, and ask our AI

Everything in Genoa

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Browse Genoa

When to come hungry in Genoa

Peak food season
Late spring and summer: the anchovy boats return in March, fave e salame mark 1 May, Recco's focaccia festival falls in late May and open-field basil is at its fullest through the warm months. Autumn brings chestnut feasts to the hill quarters and stockfish and farinata feasts to town; December is for pandolce and cappon magro.
Local dining hours
Lunch runs roughly 12:30 to 14:30 and dinner from about 19:30 to 22:30. Focaccerie and bakeries open early for the breakfast slice, and many trattorie in the old town close one day a week, often Sunday or Monday.
Tipping
Most restaurant bills carry a coperto (cover charge), usually €1.50 to €3 a head and shown on the menu, and some add a service charge. Tipping is not expected; rounding up or leaving 5 to 10 percent in cash after good service is appreciated.

Genoa food, FAQ

What food is Genoa known for?

Genoa's signature dishes include Pesto genovese, Focaccia genovese, Farinata, Focaccia di Recco col formaggio, Pansoti con salsa di noci. See our signature dishes chapter for where to eat each.

What are the best food neighborhoods in Genoa?

TableJourney editors map Genoa by district. Centro storico, De Ferrari and Brignole, Porto Antico, Prè and Principe are among the strongest for food, each with its own guide.

Where should I eat fine dining in Genoa?

Editor picks in Genoa include Il Marin, San Giorgio, Etra, plus the full fine dining chapter on TableJourney.

Are there food tours in Genoa?

TableJourney covers 4 editor-picked food tours in Genoa, with what each shows you and how much to budget.

Does Genoa have good vegetarian or vegan food?

TableJourney's Genoa dietary chapter covers vegan, vegetarian, gluten_free venues, each editor-picked with what to order and how to ask.